Vice Pres. Sara Duterte held a press conference at OVP Central Office, Mandaluyong City on Feb. 18, 2026. In the same briefing, she announced her presidential bid for 2028. Screen grabbed from Inday Sara Duterte livestream.
House prosecutors are preparing to make Vice President Sara Duterte their most consequential witness yet, declaring that they intend to call her before the Senate impeachment court after completing their evidence on all four charges against her.
The move immediately opened a legal battle over whether the official facing impeachment can be forced to testify. Duterte’s defense invoked the constitutional protection against self-incrimination, while prosecutors argued that the public deserves to hear the Vice President personally answer the allegations.
Prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan disclosed the strategy Tuesday as the panel abandoned its remaining 15 witnesses for Article I, which involves the alleged misuse and misappropriation of Php 612.5 million in confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education.
Rather than continue calling witnesses on the confidential funds issue, prosecutors said they would rely on thousands of documents already introduced in court. Kapunan told senator-judges that 4,750 documents had been presented and identified through 12 witnesses, 10 of whom personally testified.
The prosecution does not intend to call Duterte immediately. Kapunan said the panel plans to finish presenting evidence on the impeachment articles before seeking to put the Vice President on the stand, meaning no subpoena compelling her appearance has yet been requested.
Lead defense counsel Sheila Sison challenged the plan, citing Article III, Section 17 of the Constitution, which provides that no person may be compelled to be a witness against oneself. The defense said Duterte is already participating in the proceedings through her lawyers and would formally respond once prosecutors actually seek a subpoena.
The Senate impeachment court has yet to decide whether Duterte can be compelled to testify. Court spokesperson Reginald Tongol said senator-judges may hold oral arguments before resolving the issue because it directly involves a constitutional right. Duterte could also choose to testify voluntarily, as then-Chief Justice Renato Corona did during his 2012 impeachment trial.
The trial resumes Sept. 14 with prosecutors scheduled to begin presenting Article II, which concerns allegations of unexplained wealth. Whether Duterte ultimately takes the stand could become one of the most significant procedural and constitutional questions of the trial.